Cigarette and cigar lighter



May 27, 1941. H. R. MILAN CIGARETTE AND C IGAR LIGHTER Filed April 13, 1 940 mwz 42 9 .5 7 6 N 6 4 Z 2 2 4 5 2a 2 1 1 r a r x m, w\ 3 4 0 M 5 44 2 8 m a 9 H l2 4 J m 6M 4 J M 3 V 1 7 5 Z 1 2 1 4* I 2/ W 1 rq fi 1 I. 1 1 7 Q a we Patented May 27, 1941 CIGARETTE AND CIGAR LIGHTER Horace Robert Milan, St. Louis, Mo., assignor of one-half to D. O.

Oswald L. Bluege, Washington,

Application April 13, 1940, Serial No. 329,535

Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a cigarette or cigar lighter of the catalytic glow or flameless type in which is employed a catalyst which becomes incandescent in co-action with a vaporiza'ble fluid in the presence of air, absorbent material adapted to receive the vaporlzable liquid being supported in a housing or casing and controllable air passages being provided to normally cut off the air to the casing or housing containing the absorbent material and from the catalyst, said passages being opened when a cigarette or cigar is to be lighted, the person lighting the cigarette or cigar in drawing on the same sucking or drawing the air mixed with the vaporizable fluid into contact with the catalyst to cause the same to become incandescent and light the cigarette or cigar.

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described which is of a size and configuration adapting it to be readily carried in the pocket of a man or in a handbag of a lady.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described which is of relatively simple construction, having few movable parts, and permitting easy manipulation when it is desired to light a cigarette or a cigar.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of a novel form of catalyst in which the pellet or block of platinum black or other suitable catalyst may be supported in such a manner that it will not become easily broken and in which spaces are provided around the edge of the pellet or block for the ready circulation of air impregnated with the vaporizable fluid whereby the catalyst will become incandescent for lighting purposes by contact of the impregnated air.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel details of construction, and arrangement of parts, described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of theappended claims.

In the drawin Fig. 1 is a top plan.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts in inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section with parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, parts shown in elevation, showing the positions of the parts or elements for use in lighting a. cigarette or cigar.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through my improved form of catalyst.

The casing or housing which, as shown, is of oval formation, consists of the side wall I, bottom 2, and cover plate 3. The casing or housing is formed of metal and the wall I is covered exteriorly with leather 4 or other suitable material, the edges of the enclosing covering 4 being positioned between the top and bottom plates 2 and 3. Enclosed within the casing or housing is a block of absorbing material 5, of felt or other suitable material, and this block is received in a wire basket 6 of a shape to substantially fit the circumference of the casing or housing with the ends of the basket spaced from the ends of the casing or housing to provide the passages I, shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawing. It will be understood that the block of absorbent material 5 will be saturated with a vaporizable fluid.

On its upper face the top plate 3 is provided with a. recess 8 to receive the disc 9 of rubber, felt, or similar resilient material and this disc 9 is used to form a seal for the catalyst to be later described.

The top plate 3 is also formed with a threaded opening I0 in which is screwed a nipple II having a central bore I2, the nipple on its upper surface being formed with the flange I3. A washer .I4 is positioned between the body portion of the nipple and the outer face of the top plate 3, as is quite clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

A socket member or valve casing is shown at I5 and has a threaded shank I6, received in an opening H, in the top plate 3. The shank I6 is formed with a. central opening leading into the recess of the socket member I5 and slidably mounted in the central opening is a hollow valve stem. I8 closed at its lower end, as shown at I9, and provided at its upper end with an outwardly directed flange 20. Openings 2I are formed in the valve stem, just above the closed end, and communicate with the bore of the valve stem, as shown quite clearly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, and received in the recess of the socket member I5 is a coiled spring 22 which engages under the flange 20 of the valve stem and with the bottom of the socket recess. This spring normally holds the valve stem in its raised position, shown quite clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and a washer 23, carried by the valve stem at its closed end, engages with the inner end of the shank it of the socket member to limit the upward movement of the valve stem. Normally the openings 2l, of the valve stem, will be positioned interiorly of the threaded shank portion l6, as shown in Fig. 3, to cut off any entrance of air into the casing or housing through the bore or passage of the valve stem, and to prevent the escape of any vaporized fluid from'the casingor housing.

An arm 24, having the.longitudinally-.extending bor or passage 25 from one end, is carried by the circular disc or headifi, .pivotally .connected at 21 adjacent the upperend of'thesocket member !5. This head or disc 26 is formed with the passage 28 communicating with the bore or passage25, in the arm 24. Asnotedmore'clearly in .Figs; 3 and 4 of the .drawing,ithe socket member'l5 includes a curved wall29'which'will befengaged by the periphery of the disc or'head 26 and form a closure for the passage"28"when the arm 24 is in horizontal position. Asi will' also be noted the flanged upper end of the valve'stem I8 engages the edge of the head or'disc and; as the spring '22 is normally forcing the valve stem upwardly there is sufficient frictional engage ment between the end of the valve stem and the head or disc which engages the arm tohold the arm in any adjusted or swung position. It will positioned, off centen'as to cause the disc or head 26 to have valve stem downwardly, placing the coiled spring .22- under compression, and positioning the openings 2| below the end of the shank portion [6 of the socket member, as' quite clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

The outer end of the arml24 isformed with a threaded socket 30, to receive. the threaded end ofv a cap member'3i, recessed .as. shown at '32, to

receive the flexible washer 133 dfrubberlor other suitable compressible material. Asis hown quite clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing, whenlthe arm 24 is swung into its horizontal lowered position the cap member 3| will overlie theupper end of the nipple H and the flexible washer 33,..received in the recess portion of the cap member, will-engage the upwardly directed flange -portion l3 f of the nipple and cut off passage of air. through the bore I2 of the nipple.

Intermediate its ends the arm 24 .is 'formed with a threaded opening 34 to receive one end of athreaded sleeve 35 having acentral'bore-3B communicating with the bore 25 .of the arm.

'.The opposite end of the sleeve 35 carries the cap 310f translucent material formed interiorly with the shoulder 36, forming a seat for the catalyst to be described. The catalyst is held within the cap by the sleeve 39, received in the openend of the cap, and having an outwardly directed flange 40 engaging and underlying the end of the cap.

The catalyst includes a pellet or block 4| of platinum black or platim'zed material which is received in a casing formed of wire screeningineluding an upper portion .42 .anddowerz-portion -43,..th lower portion-'43 being -formedwith-the -inclinedsides 44,-forming-awell---or-recess, to receive the pellet or block, the pellet" or block being ab camming action on the valve stem [8 when the .arm is swung into vertical position, forcing the held against transverse movement -by-enga'ging ing and carry-with it the associated-parts.

clamping ring 45, one washer engaging the shoulder 38, while the opposite washer is engagedby theinner end of the sleeve 39.

.I-nFigs.-l,-.2.and 3 of the drawing I have illustratedltheparts of my device in what might be termed their. inoperative position or positions when not in use. The openings 2|, in the valve -stem48, will be positioned within the threaded --shank 13, of the socket member 15, and the opening or bore 28 of the head or disc 26, carrying thearm24, will be positioned out'of alignment with the bore of'the valve stem so that the entrance of air into the casing or housing through the valve stem is prevented. The-end of't-hebore or opening 28' will ice-closed bythe wall -29--of th socket member. The bore -l-2throughthe nipple "II willbe-closed by "the overlying-cap member 3!, the-flexible washer -33- engaging-the end of the-flange l3 of the nipple. This cuts off air passage into th casing or'housing'through the bore-l2 of the'nipple. The -cap31;-'carrying the catalyst, will be positioned with the flange -41! of the sleeve 39, engagingthe resilient disc-9,

thereby presenting a tight seal-topreventair-or air carrying the vaporizable fluid from contacting the catalyst.

When itis desired touse the-devicefor lighting a cigarette or cigar therarm-willbe"sw-ung-into the vertical-position shown in- Fig. dot the draw- When in this position'a cigarette-or'cigarwill-beinserted through 'the sleeve -39-and-into contact with the catalyst. Whenthe'cigarette-or-"cigar is-drawnupon it will suck or draw air'through the openings 2| of the valve stem, through-the *bore of the valve-stem, through the opening'or bore-280ithe head or disc 28, 'through'the-passage 25 and passage 36. Air enters into the'cas- -ing or housing throughthe bore l2 of the nipple ll--and as it passes down through 'theipassages -'I -at the ends of the absorbent-material and through the absorbent "material it I will pick-up the fluid which vaporizes with the "air andjgoes through the-bores or passages to-the catalyst as U, just described. "The catalyst becomes -incan- -descent in co-action with the vaporizablefluid in the presence of air.

After the "cigarette or cigar has been lighted the parts are returned' to their normal positions. The vaporizable ffluid may be introduced into the 'casingor "housing to be absorbed by theabsorbent'material 5 either through the bore I2 of the nipple, -by-removing the nipple for introduction-through the-threaded opening H3, or by removingthemsocket member 1l5 carryingthe valve .stem. Undoubtedly the easiest way would be that justdescribed. through the .bore l2 of the nipple. The end of thegwall 29, engaging the arm'24 as shown inrFig. 4,;limits th upward swinging movement of. the .arm.

I wish to lay particular stress on the-.fact-that when the parts are in their inoperativepositions, or in positions when not in .use, air ,c.annot=enter the casing or housing to absorb theyaporizable fluid,vaporized air cannot escape "from the casing or housing and the catalyst is cut dfi from communication with the fuel supply during periods of non-use so that it is not subjected to saturation or smothering by the fuel and is always in proper condition for ready use and reliable action.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lighter including a casing having an air inlet, means within the casing for holding a vaporizable fluid, a pivotally mounted arm, and a catalyst carried by the arm, said arm when in one position of adjustment forming communication between the interior of the casing to the catalyst and opening the air inlet to the casing, and when in another position of adjustment cutting oiT communication from the interior of the casing to the catalyst with a portion overlying and closing the air intake to the casing.

2. A lighter including a casing having an air inlet, means within the casing for holding a vaporizable fluid, a pivotally mounted arm, a closure cap carried by the arm, and a catalyst carried by the arm, said arm when in one position of adjustment forming communication from the interior of the casing to the catalyst and opening the air inlet to the casing and when in another position of adjustment cutting ofi" communication between the interior of the casing and catalyst and positioning the closure cap over the air inlet to the casing to prevent the entrance of air therethrough.

3. A lighter including a casing, means within the casing for holding a vaporizable fluid, a pivotally mounted arm, a cap carried by the arm, and a catalyst positioned in the cap, said arm when in one position of adjustment forming communication from within the casing to the catalyst within the cap and when in another position of adjustment cutting off communication from within the casing to the catalyst with the open end of the cap engageable with the casing to cut oif air to the catalyst through the open end of the cap.

4. A lighter including a casing having an air inlet, means within the vcasing for holding a vaporizable fluid, a pivotally mounted arm, a cap carried by the arm, and a catalyst mounted within the cap, said arm when in one position of adjustment forming communication from within the casing to the catalyst and opening the air inlet to the casing and in another position of adjustment cutting off communication from within the casing to the catalyst and closing the air inlet to the casing, the cap when in such lastmentioned position of the arm having its open end engageable with the casing for cutting 01f entrance of air into the cap through the open end thereof.

5. A lighter including a casing having an air inlet, means within the casing for holding a vaporizable fluid, a pivotally mounted arm, a closure cap carried by the arm, a second cap carried by the arm, and a catalyst mounted within the second-mentioned cap, said arm when in one position of adjustment forming communication from within the casing to the catalyst and opening the air inlet to the casing and when in another position of adjustment cutting 01f communication from within the casing to the catalyst, engagingv the open end of the catalyst carrying cap with the casing to cut off air to the catalyst through the open end thereof, and positioning the closure cap over the air inlet opening to the casing.

6. A lighter including a casing, means within the casing for holding a vaporizable fluid, a pivotally mounted arm having a bore therein, a cap having communication with the bore of the arm, and a catalyst carried by the cap, said arm when in one position of adjustment forming communication through the bore between the casing and cap carried by the catalyst and when in another position of adjustment cutting off communication between the casing to the catalyst carrying cap and positioning the cap in contact with the casing to prevent entrance of air into the cap.

7. A lighter including a casing having an air inlet nipple, means within the casing for holding a vaporizable fluid, a pivotally mounted arm having a bore, a cap carried by the arm and communicating with the bore thereof, a catalyst carried within the cap, and a closure cap carried by the arm, said arm when in one position of adjustment forming communication within the casing to the cap carrying the catalyst through the bore in the arm and raising the closure cap to permit entrance of air into the casing through the nipple and when in another position of adjustment cutting ofi communication between the interior of the casing and catalyst carrying cap, engaging the open end of the catalyst cap with the casing to prevent entrance of air into the cap, and positioning the closure cap over the air inlet nipple to cut off the entrance of air into the casing through the air inlet nipple.

8. A lighter including a casing having an air inlet nipple, a socket member having a shank portion entering the casing, a hollow valve slidable in the shank portion of the socket and having openings extending transversely from the bore of the Valve, a spring for normally holding the valve in raised position with the transverse openings of the valve within the shank, an arm pivotally connected to the socket member and having a longitudinally extending bore adapted to be aligned with the opening of the hollow valve, a cap carried by the arm and communicating with the bore of the arm, a catalyst 7 carried within the cap, a closure cap carried by the arm, a resilient member carried by the casing, and means within the casing for holding a vaporizable fluid, said arm when in raised position lowering the valve to position the transverse openings therein below the shank of the socket member and in communication with the interior of the casing and to bring the bore of the arm into registration with the bore of the hollow valve and positioning the closure cap to permit flow of air through the air inlet nipple into the casing, the arm when in lowered position permitting the valve to raise to its normal position, bringing the bore o-f'the arm out of communication with the valve, positioning the cap carrying the catalyst to engage the resilient member carried by the casing, and positioning the closure cap over the air inlet nipple to cut ofi the flow of air through the nipple.

9. A catalyst including top and bottom perforated members, one of said members being formed with a recess having an inclined wall, and a block of catalytic material received between the perforated members and within the recess of the one member for preventing lateral movement thereof, the inclined wall of one of the members providing a passage for air around the block of material.

10. A lighter including a casing for holding l-awaporizable fluid, said:casing;having an, air inlet and, an ,air:out1et,;an arm pivotally connected -.to thecasing for adjustment to extend vertically v:01? horizontally and having abore extending from one end. for communication with ,the air :outlet :1 I from the casing when the arm isqin .vertical p0- sitionbut out of communication therewith when inv horizontal position, -a cap carried-by the :arm

' HORACE ROBERT MILAN. 

